Members of the American Samoa Tennis Association Junior Tennis players 18 & Under) are now competing in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) East Pacific Qualifying tournament this week taking place in Lautoka, Fiji.

The top players from this tournament will be chosen to compete in the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships (POJC) representing the East Pacific. The top finishers in the POJC, will then compete in tournaments in Australia and New Zealand. The island nations competing this year in the East Pacific Qualifying are American Samoa, Samoa and Tahiti.

The tournament that began on Sunday local time, began yesterday in Fiji — Fiji is 23 hours ahead of American Samoa.

On Day One, Tahiti dominated the matches, while Team American Samoa did not fare well:

       In the 12 and Under Mixed Doubles players Vaitea Molinier and Chrissy Vonge of Tahiti, defeated the American Samoa 12 and Under Mixed Doubles team of John Paul Lim and Sharon Ledua, 6-0, 6-2.

       In the Boys 14 and Under Singles, Gilian Osmont of Tahiti defeated American Samoa’s John Quinn Lim in two sets, 6-0, 6-2. Tahiti’s Meherio Tautu of Tahiti defeated American Samoa’s Sharon Leuda 6-1, 6-0 in the Girls 12 and Under Singles.

       In the Boys 12 and Under Singles, Manovai Elie of Tahiti downed John Paul Lim 6-0, 6-3.

       In the Girls 14 and Under Singles, it was American Samoa’s Christman Crystal going against teammate Mychaella Miller. Crystal was able to defeat her teammate 7-5, 7-6.

       Back to the Mixed Doubles Matches that was in 16’s Doubles Matches, Sidney Gadsen and Ayana Rengiil, defeated the American Samoa duo of Jummah Vigas and Michelle Miller, 6-2, 6-0.

       In the Girls 16 and Under Singles, Vienna Ric downed Michelle Miller in two sets, 6-2, 6-3.

       Tahiti was able to continue with their dominance on Day One when Chrissy Vonge defeated Ledua of American Samoa 6-4, 6-4 in the Girls 12 and Under Singles.

       In the Girls 14 and Under Singles, Tahiti’s Lea Lamorelle took care of American Samoa’s Ledua Hanisi 6-0, 6-0.

       The Duo of Pavitt Kristen and Eleanor Schuster of Samoa, defeated the team of Gillian Osmont of Tahiti and American Samoa’s Ledua Hanisi 6-4, 6-4 in the 14’s Mixed Doubles.

However, all was not lost on Day One for Team American Samoa, as American Samoa’s Jummah Vigas defeated Tahiti’s Heimanaril Laisan 7-5, 6-4 in the Boys 16 and Under Singles.

       In the 14’s Mixed Doubles, American Samoa’s Jireh Warren and Tahiti’s Jeremy Guines teamed up to defeat the American Samoa team of John Quinn Lim and Mychaella Miller, 6-3, 6-1.

       In the Girls 12 and Under Singles, Jireh Warren of American Samoa, downed Samoa’s Leafine Cronin, 6-3, 6-3.

Keep reading Samoa News for the latest of Team American Samoa competing in the ITF East Pacific Qualifying Tournament in Lautoka, Fiji this week.